Championship strugglers Leicester City have lost their appeal against a six-point penalty for breaching financial regulations.
Having been relegated from the Premier League at the conclusion of both the 2022-23 and 2024-25 seasons, Leicester had contested an independent commission’s ruling that recommended the deduction due to violations of the English Football League’s (EFL) profit and sustainability guidelines for the three-year period leading up to 2024.
A statement from the Premier League confirmed: “The ruling by an independent commission to impose a six-point deduction on Leicester City Football Club for this season has been upheld by an independent appeal board.”
“The commission found that the club had violated the EFL’s profit and sustainability regulations for the period concluding with the 2023/24 season. Leicester appealed this decision on several grounds, including whether the commission had the authority to recommend a points deduction and the severity of the sanction, but these arguments were rejected by the appeal board.”
“The appeal board also dismissed a challenge from the Premier League, which was primarily concerned with the commission’s choice not to escalate the penalty for the club in relation to the delayed submission of its annual accounts.”
Once champions of the Premier League in 2016, Leicester currently sits in 22nd place in the Championship, just one point away from safety, with five matches remaining. However, Portsmouth, the team directly above them, has a game in hand.
“With this matter now resolved and five games left in the season, all of us at the club are fully focused on the upcoming matches and are determined to influence the outcome of our season with our performances on the pitch,” Leicester stated.
PA contributed to this report.